Eligibility rules could give a Texas Longhorn veteran a surprise 2026 return, but should Steve Sarkisian and Co. consider it?
The Texas Longhorns could get a surprise return in 2026 from a veteran. Is it something that the program should consider going into the year?
The recent preliminary injunction from Judge Charlotte Sweeney of the U.S. District Court of Colorado has opened the door for every true senior from the high school class of 2022 who exhausted their eligibility this past spring. The ruling requires the NCAA to declare eligible all athletes from that class who completed four seasons without a redshirt, granting them a fifth year of eligibility.
This comes on the heels of the 5-for-5 ruling from several weeks ago, which was initially interpreted to apply only to players still currently eligible. The injunction broadens that scope considerably, and for Texas Longhorns football, it puts an intriguing option on the table.
Across the college football landscape, programs may have just gained access to quality football players they already know well. For the Longhorns, two former 2022 recruits who were true seniors fit this criteria: defensive end Ethan Burke, an undrafted free agent who signed with the Baltimore Ravens after the 2026 NFL Draft, and offensive guard DJ Campbell, a sixth-round pick by the Miami Dolphins.
When you put this option on the table, it will first be dependent on whether the players themselves view it as a good one. Both are currently chasing NFL roster spots, which changes the calculus.
For Campbell, the fifth-year return probably doesn’t make much sense. As a draft pick, he has a solid opportunity to make the Dolphins’ roster.
Burke’s situation is different, however. On the Ravens’ roster, he is viewed as a bit of a long shot to make the 53-man squad. If Baltimore decides to go a different direction, it certainly leaves an interesting conversation on the table for the 6-foot-6, 265-pound defensive end.
What Burke brought to the Longhorns
During his four years with the Texas Longhorns, Burke totaled 114 tackles, 26.5 tackles for loss, 10.5 sacks, an interception, five pass breakups, two forced fumbles, and a fumble recovery. He was a mainstay on the defensive line over the last three seasons, bringing a ton of experience and versatility to the table.
While head coach Steve Sarkisian and the Longhorns returned star pass rusher Colin Simmons to the roster, they are counting on a lot of younger players to make an impact across from him. That includes true sophomore Lance Jackson. There are strong expectations for Jackson to take the next step, but someone like Burke added to the roster would significantly strengthen the floor in terms of experience, size, and the consistency factor that matters so much along a defensive front.
On the defensive line, you can never have enough quality players, especially inside the SEC.
What comes next for Burke and Texas
It’s uncertain how much interest that Burke would have, and I’m sure he hasn’t even had much time to consider it yet. For now, it’s nothing more than potential. But for the Longhorns, they could be eyeing a significant bump to an already strong roster going into what Sarkisian and his staff hope is a championship run during the 2026 college football season.
